It was just in time for the sky outside to be overcast with thick clouds, making the heat a little less oppressive than usual. Half of the people from the Third Princess Mansion stayed behind, while the rest followed them out onto the streets to shop.
They strolled from the western side of the market all the way to the eastern side. By the end, the guards were all carrying bags and bundles in their hands—mostly food. There were Dingsheng cakes, braised duck, xiaolongbao, and all sorts of other treats, large and small. Whenever Tao Chuyi paused at the entrance of a stall, the guards would rush in to buy whatever caught her eye.
Tao Chuyi held Nangong Yunshang’s hand as they wandered forward, her gaze darting left and right, overwhelmed by the sights.
“It’s just as lively here as in the capital,” she said.
Nangong Yunshang let Tao Chuyi lead her along. Before long, a sheen of fine sweat beaded on her forehead.
“Your High… Miss, why don’t you take a rest if you’re tired,” Yinghong said quickly, steadying Nangong Yunshang. “The prince consort has endless energy, but your body can’t handle half a day of this.”
Nangong Yunshang shook her head. Chuyi was happy, and that made her happy too. Stopping now would only spoil the fun.
Tao Chuyi noticed something off and turned to look at her. Seeing the flush in Nangong Yunshang’s cheeks, she halted immediately.
“Sister, you’re not feeling well.”
“No, I’m fine. Really. Where do you want to go next? Let’s head there.”
Tao Chuyi looked crestfallen. “Nowhere. Let’s go back to the inn.”
Seeing the heartbroken expression on this little fool’s face, as if she were about to burst into tears, Nangong Yunshang couldn’t help but gently caress her cheek with affection.
“Yinghong was just teasing. I’m really fine.”
Tao Chuyi still shook her head. Glancing around, she spotted a teahouse and tugged Nangong Yunshang toward it.
Since her sister wouldn’t go back, they decided to rest nearby instead.
“Sister, let me carry you on my back.”
With that, she actually crouched down.
Nangong Yunshang glanced around. Everyone nearby was staring at them.
“Chuyi, get up. I can walk on my own.”
But Tao Chuyi insisted on giving her a piggyback ride. Unable to argue her out of it, Nangong Yunshang climbed onto her back.
How could such a slender girl have so much strength? Yet when Tao Chuyi stood up with her and walked steadily forward, Nangong Yunshang suddenly recalled the ruthless, terrifying figure Chuyi had cut amid pools of blood.
Tao Chuyi carried her ahead, while Yinghong followed behind, steadying them. Nangong Yunshang’s water-blue skirts fluttered in the breeze, wrapping around Tao Chuyi’s wrist.
Tao Chuyi didn’t set her down until they reached a private room on the second floor. She carried her straight up the stairs.
Gently placing Nangong Yunshang in a chair, Tao Chuyi flushed slightly but wasn’t even breathing hard. It was summer, after all, and carrying a grown person around was bound to be tiring.
Nangong Yunshang dabbed the sweat from her forehead with a silk handkerchief. “You’re worn out, aren’t you?”
Tao Chuyi’s eyes were full of her. “Chuyi isn’t tired.”
After a moment, Nangong Yunshang’s red lips parted slightly. “Little fool.”
Tao Chuyi grinned foolishly. “Then I’ll only be Sister’s little fool.”
After all, to everyone else, she was a genius.
Nangong Yunshang couldn’t help laughing several times. Her own little treasure was such a source of joy.
Earlier, Yinghong had grumbled about the prince consort wearing out the princess. But now, watching the prince consort carry the princess the whole way without complaint, her annoyance had faded. Even a guard would be drenched in sweat after such a trek, cursing up a storm—but not a peep of exhaustion from Tao Chuyi.
The inn waiter brought tea and pastries. Yinghong poured for them both and specially handed a cup to Tao Chuyi.
“You’ve worked hard, Prince Consort.”
Tao Chuyi took it and gulped it down. She was clearly parched.
“Not hard at all.”
The group rested in the teahouse for quite a while until Nangong Yunshang finally recovered.
Downstairs, the crowd bustled about, the vendors’ calls ringing out endlessly.
At that moment, a white-bearded old man ascended the high platform in the main hall. The old man wore a simple cloth robe and held a folded fan. He sat behind a table and began to spin tales of Jiangnan affairs.
Tao Chuyi leaned on the railing, listening with rapt attention.
The old man finished with Hangzhou and moved on to Suzhou, as if there were nothing under heaven he didn’t know. His words flowed like silver from his tongue, though who could say what was true.
Tao Chuyi loved storybooks, so naturally she enjoyed hearing tales like this. She even swung her feet idly, utterly relaxed.
The old man clapped the wake-up wood. “Today, let’s hear about the affairs of the Xia family in Suzhou.”
At the mention of the Xia family, Nangong Yunshang looked up, her attention caught despite herself.
“The Xia family was a household of unparalleled wealth and prestige, one of a kind. Ten years ago, the emperor traveled south and stayed with them in the summer. From then on, Xia Yuanwai became a household name among the people of Jiangnan. But alas, three years later, a massive fire razed the Xia Mansion to the ground, and the entire family perished in the flames.”
Nangong Yunshang set down her teacup and fell silent. Everyone downstairs knew of the Third Princess’s former friendship with Miss Xia, so they kept their heads down and didn’t dare disturb her. Only Tao Chuyi listened on obliviously, grinning like a fool, unaware of the change behind her.
The old man continued, “Actually, not everyone in the Xia family died. Rumor has it that Miss Xia escaped the blaze and has grown into a fine young lady.”
At those words, Nangong Yunshang knocked over the teacup by her hand, spilling tea across the table.
“Your Highness!”
Yinghong hurried to wipe her sleeve and ordered the staff below to clean up.
Hearing the commotion, Tao Chuyi turned around. “Sister, what’s wrong?”
Nangong Yunshang forced a smile, her explanation pale and feeble. “It’s nothing.”
The crowd below buzzed with discussion. The old man had gotten the reaction he wanted and began building suspense for the next tale.
“That Miss Xia now runs a school in Suzhou City, continuing her good deeds. Many folks send their children there to study.”
Nangong Yunshang beckoned Yinghong closer and whispered instructions. Yinghong then slipped out.
Could Xia Qianhua truly have survived, all the way out here? She had to send someone to verify the truth.
The old man earned thunderous applause and departed in high spirits. On the way back, however, Nangong Yunshang kept losing herself in thought.
“Oh no, it’s raining!”
Fat raindrops pelted down. Pedestrians clutched their heads and dashed for cover, while vendors scrambled to pack up their stalls.
Yinghong shielded Nangong Yunshang from the rain. “The carriage is just ahead.”
Tao Chuyi somehow produced an oil-paper umbrella—a real lifesaver. She held it high over Nangong Yunshang’s head, letting herself get soaked.
The downpour intensified, and the group hustled Nangong Yunshang back to the carriage.
Inside, Nangong Yunshang had only gotten her skirts damp. By contrast, Tao Chuyi was drenched from head to toe.
“Why’d you only cover me?” she asked, quickly wiping the rain from Tao Chuyi’s face.
Tao Chuyi sat obediently. “Chuyi doesn’t mind getting wet.”
Luckily, the carriage had spare dry clothes. At Nangong Yunshang’s urging, she changed right there.
“Sister, how do you tie the sash?”
Nangong Yunshang helped her personally, straightening her robes.
Back at the inn, Yinghong had the kitchen brew some ginger tea and watched to make sure they both drank it.
Everyone except Nangong Yunshang had gotten somewhat wet, but that night, only she came down with a high fever.
The imperial physician examined her overnight and diagnosed a simple wind chill. She just needed rest and medicine on schedule.
Her sightseeing plans were ruined from then on; she could only stay in bed to recuperate.
Tao Chuyi sat by the bedside the whole time, refusing to leave no matter who tried to persuade her.
“Sister, sleep well, and you’ll be better by tomorrow.”
Tao Chuyi touched her forehead—it was still burning. She fetched a fresh cold cloth and laid it across Nangong Yunshang’s brow.
Then she sat back down, staring unblinkingly.
Finally, by afternoon, Nangong Yunshang’s fever had broken somewhat, and she regained her senses.
“Sister, want some water?”
Tao Chuyi poured it quick as a flash and helped her drink.
The cool water soothed her parched throat.
Nangong Yunshang leaned weakly against the headboard, watching as she tended to her.
“Where’s the Second Princess and the others?”
Tao Chuyi thought for a moment. “They all went out to the streets.”
“You go too. I’m fine now. I just can’t go strolling with you anymore.”
They’d come all this way for fun, and her illness was spoiling it. She couldn’t let Chuyi waste the trip babysitting her.
But those words only fired Tao Chuyi up. She plopped down on the edge of the bed, all puffed up. “I’m not going anywhere. I want to stay with Sister.”
Nangong Yunshang took it for childish pique and rasped, “But I can’t play with you anymore. Chuyi, be good—let Zishan go with you.”
“I’m not going!”
Tao Chuyi was still mad. “Not without Sister. Chuyi wants to take care of you!”
“You…”
Seeing she wouldn’t budge, Nangong Yunshang dropped the subject.
A short while later, Yinghong brought freshly brewed medicine, bitter in smell and taste.
Nangong Yunshang turned her head away. “Just leave it there for now.”
Yinghong looked helplessly at Tao Chuyi. Getting the princess to take her medicine was always a battle.
Tao Chuyi took the bowl and blew on a spoonful of the decoction.
“Be good, Sister, and drink your medicine.”
Nangong Yunshang furrowed her brow, refusing to even glance at it.
Tao Chuyi put on a stern face. “Sister has to drink it, or… or else…”
“Or else what?”
Nangong Yunshang watched her, curious what scheme she’d come up with.
Tao Chuyi blurted, “If you don’t drink it, I’ll sneak out by myself, and no one will find me.”
Nangong Yunshang: “…”
Her little fool was getting cheeky—learning to make threats.
Tao Chuyi offered the spoon again. This time, Nangong Yunshang resignedly opened her mouth and choked down the whole bowl of bitter brew.
The moment she finished, Tao Chuyi popped a piece of peanut candy into her mouth.
Nangong Yunshang blinked in surprise. “When did you buy this?”
Tao Chuyi beamed proudly. “Yesterday while shopping. Chuyi loves candy, and so does Sister.”
She carefully wrapped up the rest and tucked the packet into her bosom.
“Yinghong says eating too much candy makes your teeth hurt, so let’s just have two pieces a day. We’ll take the medicine twice too. Okay?”
Nangong Yunshang felt helpless and had no choice but to lie back down. Could she really say no?
Under Tao Chuyi’s meticulous care, Nangong Yunshang ate her meals and took her medicine on schedule, sleeping the rest of the time. In just two or three days, she had mostly recovered.
“Eat some porridge.”
Tao Chuyi scooped up a spoonful of meat porridge. Yinghong had specially added minced meat and greens to it for extra flavor.
After finishing the porridge came the ginseng soup, which needed to steep for half an hour before Nangong Yunshang took her medicine.
Nangong Yunshang’s appetite had largely returned, and the porridge alone no longer satisfied her. As bedtime approached, hunger made her stomach rumble, but she kept silent.
For one thing, she had no habit of eating in the evening. For another, she didn’t want to burden Chuyi any further.
But Tao Chuyi had sharp ears and picked up on the unmistakable gurgles. Tao Chuyi followed the sound straight to Nangong Yunshang’s stomach.
The moment Tao Chuyi’s eyes met Nangong Yunshang’s belly, Tao Chuyi looked up with a grin. “Sister’s hungry.”
Nangong Yunshang’s face flushed red, but she stubbornly denied it. “No, I’m not.”
Tao Chuyi pointed right at her stomach. “You are. I heard it. I’ll go find some food for Sister.”
With that, Tao Chuyi turned and hurried out the door.
Nangong Yunshang reacted a beat too late. “Hey, Chuyi!”
It was the middle of the night—where on earth was she going to find food?
